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Authorities say he crossed the street and began firing into the building from the outside. He then entered the church and continued his rampage, shooting his victims with a Ruger AR assault rifle, according to Freeman Martin, the Regional Director for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Martin says the suspect fled the church where he returned fire with an armed civilian. The civilian chased the suspect who attempted to flee in a vehicle. The suspect was later killed by a gunshot wound, although it is unclear if the shot was self-inflicted or from the armed civilian.

Two officials tell The Associated Press that the Texas church shooter was Devin Kelley.

A U.S. military official says Kelley was a former Air Force member who was stationed in New Mexico at one time.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek says records confirm that Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge. The date of his discharge and the circumstances under which he left the service were not immediately available.

The Pentagon also confirmed that Kelley was an airman "at one point," but didn't provide additional details.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that 26 people were killed in the shooting. 23 were killed inside the church, two others were found dead outside and one person succumbed to the wounds at an area hospital. Abbot says the Sunday shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in Texas state history

While officials are also not naming the victims, some of the victims' family members are confirming the death of their loved ones.

Frank Pomeroy, the pastor of First Baptist Church Pastor tells ABC News that his 14-year-old daughter is among the dead.

First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy tells ABC his 14yr-old daughter is among the dead—Says she "was one very beautiful, special child"

A parishioner, Sandy Ward, said in an interview on Sunday that a daughter-in-law and three of her grandchildren were shot. Her grandson, who is 5, was shot four times and remained in surgery as of Sunday night. She said she was awaiting word on her other family members.

Ward said she did not attend services on Sunday because of her troubled knees and a bad hip. “I just started praying for everybody who was there” when she learned of the shooting, she said.

Multiple helicopters have left the scene to transport victims to area hospitals.

At least 10 victims were transported to Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville, said spokeswoman Megan Posey. She could not speak to their age or gender, but said there are multiple victims with gunshot wounds, and some have had to be taken by helicopter to a different treatment center.

According to a Twitter post, University Hospital's trauma team is caring for nine of the patients from the Sutherland Springs shooting, 4 children, 5 adults. The hospital reported one more victim is on the way.

The Texas Rangers within the Texas Department of Public Safety is the lead investigating agency, assisted by law enforcement officers from Wilson County, Bexar County, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, among others.

"We're looking at a pretty horrific scene that'll take several days to process," one official said.

Speaking to U.S. and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo on Monday during his Asian trip, Trump expressed his sorrow over what he called a “horrific shooting” at a “place of sacred worship.”

Trump said that “our hearts are broken but in dark times — and these are dark times — such as these, Americans do what they do best.” He said Americans will pull together to help the suffering and he pledged to continue monitoring the investigation during his lengthy Asian tour.

Texas' U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn both released statements on the shooting, with Cornyn calling the situation "heartbreaking."

"Truly heartbreaking news in #Sutherland Springs. Please say a prayer for First Baptist congregation, first responders & the community there," Cornyn said.

Truly heartbreaking news in #Sutherland Springs. Please say a prayer for First Baptist congregation, first responders & the community there